Alexandria, Minnesota

Seven different bands have claimed the Grand Champion title in the Festival's 22-year history. Join us to see who rises to the top in 2008!

Future Dates:
June 28, 2009
Always the last Sunday
in June

BAND FROM NORWAY TO PERFORM IN 2008
The Stabekk School Band from Oslo, Norway will perform as the Honor Band of the 2008 Vikingland Band Festival. The Festival committee is thrilled to welcome our international guests!

The band includes 60 students ages 11-18. They are traveling to Alexandria to help celebrate Minnesota's sesquicentennial and to provide their students a cross-cultural experience with American band students. For the past four years the Stabekk School Band has won either the street or field marching event at the Norwegian Masters Competition.

New for 2008!
"ROOTBEER FLOAT CONCERT" ON SATURDAY NIGHT
The Vikingland Band Festival weekend will feature events on both Saturday and Sunday in 2008. On Saturday, June 28, bring your lawn chairs or blankets to the front lawn of Jefferson High School to enjoy an informal musical performance followed by free root beer floats. Alexandria's Jefferson High School Marching Band will present a stand-still performance of its summer marching music, and the Stabekk School Band from Oslo, Norway, will perform its concert music. The concert begins at 6:00 PM on the front lawn of Jefferson High School. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be held in the gym.

Updated April 14
2008 PARADE ENTRIES
What a great lineup! With 22 bands it's the Festival's biggest lineup in seven years. Thanks to all the band directors who registered for the 2008 Festival. We will start a waiting list for any additional bands that wish to attend.
• Alexandria Jefferson - Host
• Stabekk School Band (Norway) - Honor Band
• Albany
• Benson
• Bertha-Hewitt
• Buffalo
• Fergus Falls
• Henry Sibley
• Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg
• Long Prairie-Grey Eagle
• Mankato 77 Lancers
• Montevideo
• Osseo
• Park Center
• Richfield
• St. Cloud All-City
• St. Francis
• St. Michael-Albertville
• Sauk Rapids-Rice
• Waconia
• Willmar
• Winona Cotter

FESTIVAL TURNS "25" IN 2009
It's still a year away, but the committee is already getting energized for the Festival's upcoming 25th anniversary milestone. A big thanks to the band directors, performers, spectators and sponsors who have played a part in the Festival's ongoing success.

2007 PHOTO GALLERY
It's our largest photo gallery ever ... 141 images! Relive the excitement of the day with the 2007 photo gallery.

GET THE 2007 PARADE DVD
Fantastic aerial shots and multi-camera views make the 2007 Vikingland Band Festival DVD great. View a video preview of Park Center's Grand Champion performance. The television-style DVD is professionally produced by Excellent Multimedia. You'll see each band's performance along with highlights from the awards ceremony. Place your order online now »

SUBMIT YOUR FAVORITE TRADITIONS
Do you know about Park Center's pre-parade potluck? Many wonderful traditions have developed around the Vikingland Band Festival. We've listed some of our favorites, and we invite you to tell us about YOUR favorites. More »

PAST RESULTS
Did you know that 79 different bands have appeared in the Vikingland Band Festival since its inception in 1985? Step into the Festival archives to access scores and participants from previous Festivals.

DID YOU KNOW...?
Three bands have appeared in every Vikingland Band Festival to date. Congrats and thanks to Bertha-Hewitt, Long Prairie and Alexandria for this long run. Even more impressive ... Ken Nelson of Bertha-Hewitt is the only band director to appear every year!

Through 2007 these bands have appeared at least 15 times: Litchfield (22), Fergus Falls (20), Park Center (19), Waconia (19), Henry Sibley (18), Mankato 77 Lancers (18), Winona Cotter (18), St. Cloud All-City (17), Albert Lea (16). Osseo has appeared 14 times, so 2008 will mark their 15th appearance.

Festival Scenes: View past photo galleries »

EXPERIENCE THE FESTIVAL IN PERSON
Join the 20,000 spectators and 2,000 performers for this spectacular event. Look here for the parade route and maps of Alexandria. More »

2008 PLATINUM SPONSORS



GOLD SPONSORS
EMBARQ
Bernick's Pepsi
Holiday Station Stores

SILVER SPONSORS
Pete's County Market
First State Bank
Martinson Insurance
West Central Sanitation
Marching.com
Indigo Signworks
AgCountry Farm Credit
Alexandria Golf Cars

New for 2007!
PLACEMENT TROPHY AND PRIZE MONEY FOR EVERY BAND
The Vikingland Band Festival continues to make improvements, and this year every competing band is guaranteed to earn at least $200 in prize money. This change also means the awards ceremony will be refined, as each band will now receive a placement trophy. For example, in a class of five bands, trophies will be awarded for first through fifth place. This replaces the former structure of trophies for the top three places and participation plaques for the remaining places.

New for 2007!
ESTIMATED STEP OFF TIMES
To help bands plan their arrival and warmup, the Vikingland Band Festival committee is providing a schedule of estimated step off times. The schedule is based on 8-minute intervals.

New for 2007!
PEOPLE'S CHOICE VIEWING ZONES
This year's Festival will have more People's Choice judges than ever before, and many of them will be seated in two special "People's Choice" viewing areas near 10th Avenue and 12th Avenue. The public is invited to view the parade in these festive zones.

Eleven different bands have been named People's Choice since we launched the award in 1989, and the Mankato 77 Lancers have won it a whopping five times! Previous People's Choice award winners:
• 2006 The Patriots
• 2004-05 Waconia
• 2000-01-02-03 Mankato 77 Lancers
• 1999 Albert Lea
• 1998 Champlin Park
• 1997 Fergus Falls
• 1996 Long Prairie
• 1994-95 Irondale
• 1993 Mankato 77 Lancers
• 1991-92 New Richmond, WI
• 1990 Henry Sibley
• 1989 Hibbing